TXICFW believes we should strive to provide all youth trauma-informed, comprehensive sexual health information that teaches them that they have value no matter what they have experienced in life. Current federally-funded evidence-based programs that have been adapted for disconnected youth need to be more trauma-informed, inclusive and accessible to highly transient populations such as youth in foster care, homeless or in the juvenile justice system. We also believe professionals who work with youth around sexual health best serve youth when they are supported, well-trained, practice self-care, and are connected to resources in our community. TXICFW is dedicated to working towards better adolescent sexual health interventions and further supporting the professionals in this field. Check out our most current work related to adolescent health:
This workshop offers valuable resources and skill-building around talking with children of all ages about sexuality. Building upon psychosocial, moral, cognitive and spiritual development theories, we will explore age-appropriate messaging about topics of sexuality and practice handling questions and scenarios dealing with children. Training Objectives Define healthy sexual development with the context of psychosocial, moral,… Read more »
In this workshop, learn about the young parenting myths that are perpetuated by our culture, media, and peers and learn how to work with these parents so that the messages they hear are inclusive and empowering. Training Objectives Participants will learn how prevalent cultural myths about young parents have been perpetuated by politics and teen… Read more »
Youth who have experienced adversity have higher rates of adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections compared to youth in general. Those in out-of-home care may miss sexual health education in schools and often have not had reliable caregivers to provide them with accurate sexual health information. Compounding the issue, many of these youth have experienced… Read more »
This workshop will provide guidance to youth-serving professionals so they can have brave conversations with youth. We will discuss the need for trauma-informed sex education, analyze shaming language and discuss how to incorporate trauma-informed practices in daily work. Training Objectives 1. Articulate the importance of trauma-informed sex education for youth who have been maltreated. 2. Identify the… Read more »
November 2019 Over the past decade, academic research has documented disproportionately high rates of pregnancy among current and former foster youth. It is estimated that females who experience foster care are two to three times more likely to become teen mothers.[1] In Texas, female foster youth are almost five times more likely to become pregnant… Read more »
By Allie Long “My body is strong and amazing”: Embodied experiences of pregnancy and birth among young women in foster care (2019) Elizabeth Aparicio – University of Maryland, Svetlana Shpiegel – Montclair State University, Claudette Grinnell-Davis – University of Oklahoma, & Bryn King – University of Toronto This is the only known study that has… Read more »
By Allie Long Growing up in America today, sex education is a largely contentious subject. In fact, less than half of the US states require sex education in public schools. If a formal sex ed program is even provided in a school setting, there is a good chance the curriculum focuses on the negative consequences… Read more »
By Allie Long TXICFW’s Monica Faulkner, and Laura Marra, recently published on the first known study that explored ways in which formalized sexual education programs affect youth in juvenile justice and foster care settings. What’s the problem? Research has shown that this population of developing adolescents are more likely to have sex earlier than their… Read more »
Faulker, M., Marra, L., McKerlie, K. (2017). Challenging the evidence base: The impact of teen pregnancy prevention curricula on disconnected youth, Oral paper at the Society for Social Work and Research 21th Annual Meeting and Exposition, New Orleans, LA
Faulkner, M., (2016) Moving beyond the big talk: Engaging children of all ages in discussions about sexual health, Oral Presentation at the 2016 Texas CASA Conference, Dallas, Texas
Faulkner, M., McKerlie, K., (2016) Empowering teen parents through inclusive messages. Oral Presentation at the DFPS Annual Partners in Prevention Conference, Austin, TX
McKerlie, K., Brazeal, J., Marra, L. & Faulkner, M. (2016). Mixed messages: Methods and findings from a teen pregnancy needs assessment in Texas. Oral paper at the Society for Social Work and Research 20th Annual Meeting and Exposition, Washington DC.
Faulkner, M. & Brazeal, J. (August 19, 2016) Brave Conversations: Utilizing trauma-informed approaches to talk to youth about sex. Oral presentation to youth-serving professionals at a one-day offering through the Utah Department of Health in Salt Lake City, UT
The Healthy Youth Partnership (“HYP”) is a volunteer-led collaboration working to support youth-serving professionals in the Central Texas community. Through the Mobilization for Health: National Prevention Partnership Award, HYP increased the capacity of the Central Texas community to provide evidence-based sexual health programs to youth through two mechanisms: 1) direct programming to youth to support… Read more »
Connecting disconnected youth to programs that support healthy sexual outcomes. The Connections Project aims to reduce the disproportionate pregnancy and birth rate among “disconnected” youth in Texas by connecting youth to knowledge, awareness and services, and connecting service providers to one another. The project seeks to improve youth’s knowledge and awareness of healthy sexuality through use of evidence-based teen… Read more »
By Helen Hollis Last month CFRI’s Dr. Monica Faulkner, Jeni Brazeal, and Kate McKerlie, presented at the Texas Behavioral Health Institute Conference in Austin, Texas. All three have worked in the the field of adolescent sexual health; as a direct educators and program evaluators. Dr. Faulkner’s workshop, Brave Conversations: Utilizing Trauma-Informed Approaches to Talk to Youth… Read more »
Faulkner, M. & Brazeal, J. (August 2, 2016) Brave Conversations: Utilizing trauma-informed approaches to talk to youth about sex. Oral presentation to youth-serving professionals at a one-day offering at LifeSteps Council in Round Rock, TX.
Faulkner, M., (July 12th, 2016) Brave Conversations: Utilizing trauma-informed approaches to talk to youth about sex. Oral Presentation at the 2016 Texas Behavioral Health Institute in Austin, TX
Faulkner, M. (April 16, 2016) Brave Conversations: Utilizing trauma-informed approaches to talk to youth about sex. Oral presentation to the Foster Parent Association in Waco, TX
Faulkner, M., Schergen, L., (April 13th, 2016) Brave Conversations: Utilizing Trauma-Informed Approaches to Talk to Youth about Sex. Oral Presentation at the 2016 Texas Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Annual Symposium in Austin, TX on April 13, 2016
Faulkner, M. & Schergen, L., (February 18, 2016) Brave Conversations: Utilizing trauma-informed approaches to talk to youth about sex. Oral presentation to youth-serving professionals at a one-day offering at the Thompson Conference Center in Austin, TX
Faulkner, M. (February 27, 2016) Brave Conversations: Utilizing trauma-informed approaches to talk to youth about sex. Oral presentation to the Foster Parent Association in Austin, TX
Faulkner, M. (November 21, 2015) Brave Conversations: Utilizing trauma-informed approaches to talk to youth about sex. Oral presentation to the Foster Parent Association in Killeen, TX
Faulkner, M. & Schergen L., (November 9th, 2016) Brave Conversations: Utilizing trauma-informed approaches to talk to youth about sex. Oral presentation at the 2015 Child Welfare Conference in Austin, TX on November 9, 2015
Faulkner, M., & Schergen, L., (November 6th, 2015) Brave Conversations: Utilizing trauma-informed approaches to talk to youth about sex. Oral Presentation at the 2015 Texas CASA Conference in San Marcos, TX.
Schergen, L. (October 28th, 2015) Brave Conversations: Utilizing trauma-informed approaches to talk to youth about sex. Oral Presentation to caregivers working with Boysville, Inc in Converse, TX
Faulkner,M., (October 14th, 2015) Brave Conversations: Utilizing Trauma-Informed Approaches to Talk to Youth about Sex. Webinar for The University of Texas at Austin’s Professional Development Webinar Series in Austin, TX.
Cardea Connection Project Final Results Infographic
http://theconversation.com/when-sex-education-emphasizes-shame-it-doesnt-help-youth-who-have-been-sexually-abused-42240
Brazeal, J., Marra, L., McKerlie, K. & Faulkner, M. (2015). Mixed Messages: The current state of teen pregnancy prevention in Travis County, TX. Austin, TX: The Healthy Youth Partnership, Child & Family Research Institute.
Faulkner, M., Marra, L., McKerlie, K. (2015). Challenging the evidence base: The impact of teen pregnancy prevention curricula on disconnected youth. Poster presentation at the American Public Health Association 143nd Annual Meeting and Exposition, Chicago, IL.
Faulkner, M. & Marra, L. (2015, January). Effectiveness of teen pregnancy evidence based curricula with disconnected youth. Oral paper at the Society for Social Work and Research 19th Annual Meeting and Exposition, New Orleans, LA.
Faulkner, M. & Schergen, L. (2015, April). Positive sex ed: Infusing trauma informed approaches with evidence based curricula. Oral paper at The Texas Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy’s 4th Annual Symposium, San Antonio, TX.
Another view: A Brave Conversation About Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Faulkner, M. (May 19th, 2015) Positive Sex Ed: Infusing trauma-informed approaches with evidence-based curricula. Oral Presentation at the HYP Youth Provider Conference, Austin TX
Schergen, L. & Campos, H., (May 19th, 2015) Positive Sex Ed: Infusing Trauma-Informed Approaches with Evidence-Based Curricula. Oral Presentation to abstinence education providers in Lubbock, TX on May 19, 2015
by Monica Faulkner Most people agree that we should try to prevent teen pregnancy. What we get bogged down in are the details: Do we teach kids about birth control? Or do we teach kids not to have sex until they are married? In honor of teen pregnancy prevention day, I propose a new conversation,… Read more »
Hebert, S., (May 14th, 2015) Positive Sex Ed: Infusing trauma-informed approaches with evidence-based curricula. Oral Presentation to Helping Hand Home Staff in Austin, TX
Hebert, S., (May 12th, 2015) Positive Sex Ed: Infusing trauma-informed approaches with evidence-based curricula. Oral Presentation to Helping Hand Home Staff in Austin, TX
Schergen, L., & Campos, H., (May 12th, 2015) Positive Sex Ed: Infusing trauma-informed approaches with evidence-based curricula. Oral Presentation to abstinence education providers in Brownsville, TX
Faulkner, M., & Schergen, L., (April 24th, 2015) Positive Sex Ed: Infusing trauma-informed approaches with evidence-based curricula. Oral Presentation to a group of foster parents in Austin, TX
Faulkner, M., (April 23, 2015) Positive Sex Ed: Infusing trauma-informed approaches with evidence-based curricula. Oral Presentation to a Human Sexuality course at The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX.
Faulkner, M., & Brazeal, J. (October, 24th, 2014) Making Research Work: A Collaborative Needs Assessment on Teen Pregnancy Prevention. Oral Presentation at the 2014 Healthy Teen Network Conference in Austin, TX
Faulkner, M., (2011, January). Teen Pregnancy Among Foster Youth. Paper presentation at the Society for Social Work Research Annual Meeting, Tampa, FL.
Schumate, C., Faulkner, M. & Marra, L. (2014, June). Addressing sexual health needs of LGBTQ youth in non-traditional settings: Findings from year one of the Texas Connections project. Poster presentation at the 2014 Health and Human Services Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grantee Conference, Washington DC.
Faulkner, M. & Schergen, L. (2014, June). Trauma informed sex education. Oral paper at the 2014 Health and Human Services Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grantee Conference, Washington DC.
Faulkner, M., Marra, L. & Schumate, C. (2014, June). Effectiveness of teen pregnancy evidence based curricula with disconnected youth. Poster presentation at the 2014 Health and Human Services Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grantee Conference, Washington DC.
Faulkner, M., Brazeal, J. & Marra, L. (2014, June). Identifying gaps in sexual health information and services: An example of a community needs assessment in Central Texas. Poster presentation at the 2014 Health and Human Services Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grantee Conference, Washington DC.
Faulkner, M. & Schergen, L. (2014, August). Beyond the birds and bees: Trauma informed sex education. Oral paper at the Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) 31st Annual Conference, Austin, TX.
Faulkner, M. & Schergen, L. (2014, October). Positive sex ed: Infusing trauma informed approaches with evidence based curricula. Oral paper at the 2014 Healthy Teen Network Conference, Austin, TX.
Faulkner, M. & Schergen, L. (2014, November). Trauma informed sex education: Findings from an examination of EBPs with disconnected youth. Oral paper at the American Public Health Association 142nd Annual Meeting and Exposition, New Orleans, LA.
Faulkner, M., Marra, L. & Shumate, C. (2014, November). Effectiveness of teen pregnancy evidence based curricula with disconnected youth. Oral paper at the American Public Health Association 142nd Annual Meeting and Exposition, New Orleans, LA.
Lewis, C., Faulkner, M., Scarborough, M., Gartin, B.B. (2012). Predictors of three-year subsequent births for low-income adolescent mothers: An exploratory investigation of an intensive case management collaboration. American Journal of Public Health, 102(10), 1862-1865.
Faulkner, M. (2010, November). Techniques for talking with youth about contraception. Presentation to providers at the Healthy Youth Partnership, Austin, TX.
Faulkner, M. & Smith, R. (2009, October). Current research and policies impacting teen pregnancy and teen parents in foster care. Workshop presentation at the Healthy Teen Network Annual Conference, Tampa, FL.
Faulkner, M. (2010). Book Review: The Moral Property of Women: A History of Birth Control in America. AFFILIA: Journal of Women and Social Work, 25(2), 197-198.